Montclair Planning Board closes public comment on unified land use and circulation plan

Resident William Scott takes to the podium during Monday's Planning Board meeting.

Master Plan

The Montclair Planning Board rapped up public hearing on the unified land use and circulation plan of the revised Master Plan on Monday.

During an evening in which opinions varied greatly, one of the lone pieces of consensus was Forest Street residents' overwhelming opposition to development on their stretch of street between Glenridge and Claremont avenues.

Following an outpour at last month's hearing and yet another Forest Street resident showing his opposition to development on his block on Monday, Board Chairman John Wynn said that he has been operating under the assumption that no one on the block s in favor of development, later describing the matter as a "no-brainer."

Mayor Robert Jackson said that he would be in favor of leaving the block as-is, with board member Carole Willis adding that she believed that the board was in consensus on the topic of Forest Street.

Fellow board member Martin Schwartz said that, lost in the discussion of development and building heights was a recommendation by the Art Subcommittee to create a neighborhood where local artists could use their residences in a more commercial way, allowing them to stay at home, grab lunch at local eateries and support the local economy.

Schwartz said that he didn't want to jettison the whole recommendation to have such a community. Fellow members of the board agreed, but indicated that Forest Street did not appear to be a fit and that the idea may bee better suited elsewhere.

Jackson warned that the board will need to be careful where such a community is proposed as to not creep development into residential neighborhoods.

Is there enough parking in Upper Montclair Village?

Scott Kevelson opined during his comments to the board that plans to preserve the historic nature of the Upper Montclair Business District and the nearby viewshed was not compatible with allowing developers to build on parking lots.

Kevelson expressed his view that a three-story structure, be it a building or parking deck, would detract from the suburban feel of the village. The resident said that a parking deck would exacerbate traffic issues and that additional parking was not needed in the village, a point, Wynn said, that runs counter to previous comments from the public.

The board chairman asked what made the lot adjacent to the Upper Montclair New Jersey Transit station special, aside from the fact that the Olmsted name is attached to it.

Lisanne Renner of Friends of Anderson Park explained that the lot was designed nearly 100 years ago to serve as a beautiful area for those stepping off the train to arrive at. If original landscaping was restored, Renner said, the lot would be more attractive.

Jackson responded to Kevelson by saying that the lots in question are municipal owned and would need Township Council approval to be developed on. Just because the lots may be zoned a certain way, does not mean that there is a desire by the council to sell those parcels.

During board discussion, Jackson said that the area around the A&P could serve as a place to add parking, while Schwartz suggested the CVS property as well.

Affordable Housing and 10 Stories at Lackawanna

Fourth Ward Township Councilwoman Renée Baskerville took the podium, saying that she was concerned that the Master Plan's incentive zoning will not serve the goal of creating affordable units in newly-constructed buildings, but rather pass affordable units on to older, existing structures.

The councilwoman also spoke in opposition to the possibility of a 10-story structure potentially being built at Lackawanna Plaza and asked whether a historic designation could prevent such a building from being constructed.

Resident William Scott also spoke in opposition of the potential 10-story Lackawanna structure.

During board response, Willis said that she's been consistently opposed to a 10-story Lackawnna Plaza development. Jackson said that he thought six stories, going up to eight stories with incentives, would be appropriate.

Scott, who sits on the Housing Commission, also said that he felt that the township has been "bouncing the ball" in terms of affordable housing, with 10 percent of new developments being designated for affordable housing, as opposed to the 20 percent called for in the municipal inclusionary zoning ordinance.